beforehand
Americanadverb
adjective
Etymology
Origin of beforehand
First recorded in 1175–1225, beforehand is from the Middle English word bifor-hand. See before, hand
Vocabulary lists containing beforehand
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Most house hunters wouldn’t dare buy a home sight unseen, but at auctions bidders are rarely given a peek inside beforehand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026
So, I went to scout it out beforehand — and I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026
It was a case of “travel and arrive’” for the stock whereby investors expected strong results beforehand and were positioned for it, triggering profit-taking.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026
Instead, they learned only two separate things beforehand: that the blue flower provided a reward and that the ball was a movable, harmless object.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026
As usual his mother cooks for days beforehand, cramming the refrigerator with stacks of foil-covered trays.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
